Lubricating device



Dec. 21, 1937.` H R TEAR LUBRICATING DEVIC Filed Nov. 30, 1934 H fgy Zea/ BY A 'n INVENTOR TTORNEY Patented Dec. 2l, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,103,044 LUBRTCATING nEvrcE Harry R. Tear, Evanston, Ill., yassignor to The' Lubrication Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Delaware applicati November ao, 1934, serial No. '155,255 1s claims. ...(01. sei-47.4)

This invention relates to improvements in lubrieating devices and more particularly to a safety feed screw mechanism for applying pressure to the lubricant in the low-'pressure' cartridge or reservoir of a lubricant gun, dispenser or the like such, for instance, as that disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 753,663, filed Nov.

c With the introduction of cartridge-type lubricant guns and dispensing apparatus into the field `of high pressure lubrication wherein cartridges are employed as a source of replaceable or interchangeable lubricant supply for the gun or dispenser, certain serious problems have been enlJ countered in the usel of manually-operated forcemultiplying mechanism for applying pressure to In some types of equipment employing interchangeable cartridges, it is desirable to placethe piston of the cartridge under an initial thrust approximating the maximum thrust desirable with respect to the strength of the cartridge walls through the medium of a compression springvso that as lubricant is discharged from the cartridge into the high pressure unit of the gun ordispenser, the lubricant in` the cartridgeis maintained under pressure which, of course, may gradually diminish as the spring is permitted to expand. Such a spring practically necessitates the use ofr high force-:multiplying pressure-producing mechanism such as a feed screw in order. to operate effectively and, consequently, an unskilled operator may apply unnecessary force sufficient to rupture or otherwise damage thecartridge.

It is, therefore, an objectof my invention to provide a mechanism for applying pressure to the piston of a lubricant cartridge or container, of such character that it may be automatically ren- :.0 dered ineffective when the developed pressure attains a predetermined value and which maybecome effective again upon the reduction of pressure in the cartridge or container below the aforesaid predetermined value.

5;, Another object is to provide pressure-Produ@ ing mechanism for cartridge or container pistons as described which includes as an operative component thereof, means for storing power or energy for vurging the piston alongits course of travel and which is operative subsequent tothe appli- 5 cation of force thereto.'

' Other objects, the advantages, and uses will become apparent after reading the following description and claims and after consideration of v the accompanying drawing wherein: `10- Fig. `1 is a side elevation, partially-in section, of a` hand lubricant gun constructed in accordance with the invention;

vFig. 2 is a fragmentary'sectional lview of the safety feed screw'mechanism as it appears dur- 15 ing normal operation:

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the feed screw mechanism as it appears when the pressure in the cartridge exceeds a predetermined value;

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewalong the line IV--IV of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V ofFig.3. u

I have illustrated my improved feed screwl y mechanism as embodied in a hand type cartridge lubricant gun comprising a barrel 2 having a detachable cap 3 at one end upon which a pushtype high pressure lubricant pump unit 4 is mounted in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the barrel 2. Lubricant for the pump 30 unit 4 may be supplied through the medium koi' interchangeable lubricant cartridges, ione of which is illustrated at 5 and which during opera `tion of the gun is located within the barrel 2 and supported upon the gun as by` a cartridge con- 35 nector'plate 6 carried by the cap and pump assembly. A cartridge connector stud l representingthe inlet for the pump unit 4 is connected with the outlet opening (not shown) of the cartridge 5 when the cartridge is supported upon the 40 connector plate 8 as illustrated. -A piston 8 slidably mounted within the cartridge 5 provides a means for placingthe lubricant in the cartridge under pressure by theapplication of thrust thereto along the longitudinal axis of the piston as by 45 theY hand operated feed screw 9 extending through the rearward end I0 of the lbarrel 2. V

With reference to Figs. 2 and ,3 the feed screw 9 maybe provided with a hand grip Il at its rearward end and a cup l2 uponfits forward end 50 mounted thereupon as by a swivel connection i3. The cup l2, in the mechanism illustrated is fasnioned forengagement with a central and projecting portion 8a on the rear face of the piston 8 as shown in F18. 1. i

The mounting for the feed screw 9 may comprise a metal bushing I4 fixed in a central opening I5 through the end wall I0 of the barrel through which a sleeve I6 is slidably and rotatably mounted. An annular member I1 may be fixed upon the rearward end of the sleeve I6, exteriorly of the barrel 2, as by means of a plug or key I8 disposed in aligned bores in thersleeve I6 and member I1 located upon an axis perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve. The forward face I9 of the member I1 (see Fig. 5) may be provided with a pair oi spaced apart lugs 2l located on opposite sides oi the sleeve I6. Similar lugs 22 may be formed upon opposite sides of the sleeve I6 upon the opposed face 23 on the bushing I4. The lugs 2i and 22 may have substantially triangular cross-sectional contour as indicated at Fig. 3 and are normally located in a common plane so that the rotation oi' the member I1 relative to the bushing I 4 and hence the barrel 2 is precluded by lateral abutment of the pairs of lugs against one another. A compression spring 24 may be disposed between the bushing I4 andA a anged sleeve 25 slidably mounted upon the outer wall of the sleeve I6, complementary flanges 26 and 21 being provided on the sleeves 25 and I6 respectivelyv to limit the movement of the sleeves relative to one another under the force or the spring 24.

In order to reduce friction between the sleeves 25 and I6 steel balls 28 may be interposed between the anges 26 and 21 as shown. Under normal conditions the spring 24 will draw the annular member I1 toward the bushing I4 and hence the lugs 2I and 22 into lateral registration therefor retaining the member I1 against rota-- tion.

A cylindrical plug 29 slidably mounted in bores 3| and 32 in the member I1 and sleeve I6 respectively serves as a medium of interconnection between the threads of the feed screw 9 and the relatively stationary assembly of the feed screw mechanism. The innermost end of the plug 29 is formed with screw threads corresponding to the threads of the screw 9 which are maintained in engagement, at will, with the screw 9 against the force of a band-spring 33 by the manipulation oi' an eccentric cam sleeve 34. In Fig. 2 the sleeve 34 is shown in the position required to cause the plug 29 to engage with the screw. Rotation of the sleeve 180 about the axis of the screw will permit the plug 29 to be withdrawn from engagement of the feed screw under the force of the band spring 33. A lock nut 35 1ocated upon the externally threaded and rearward end 36 of the sleeve I6 provides the dual function of lateral support for the annular member I1 and connement of the eccentric cam sleeve 34.

With the feed screw mechanism thus described rotation o1' the feed screw 9, as by torque applied manually through the hand grip I I will canse the piston 8 to advance along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge thus to place the lubricant in the cartridge under pressure sufficiently to charge the high pressure pump unit 4; If, however, the operator should, through inadvertence or by intention, turn the feed screw suidciently tight to produce pressure within the cartridge approaching that previously determined by the characteristics of the spring 24 as dangerous to the cartridge structure, the spring 24 will yield and piston movement will cease upon the rearward movement o! the sleeve I6 relative to the feed screw upon the disengagement of the lugs 2| and 22 on the members Il and I4 respectively. Continued rotationfof the feed screw will fall to increase thrust upon the piston 8 until such time as the pressure within the cartridge 5 acting upon the piston and hence upon the feed screw has been relieved to an amount suflicient to permit the lugs 2I and 22 to again engage with one another as indicated in Fig. 2.

The purpose of the eccentric cam member 34 or quick release mechanism, as it is sometimes called, is to permit the operator to withdraw the lfeed screw 9 from engagement with the piston and from within the cartridge by rectangular movement of the screw as when it is desired to change the cartridge for a fresh cartridge or for one having another grade of lubricant. This mechanism is described and claimed in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 753,663. v

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments of the invention are for the purpose of illustration only, and that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a lubricating device, a thrust producing means comprising, a tubular member mounted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, a. threaded member carried by said tubular member, a screwextending through said tubular member, means for moving said threaded member into engagement with the screw whereby the screw will advance along said axis upon rotational movement relative to said tubular member, and yielding means normally retaining said tubular member against rotation.

2. In a lubricating device, a thrust producing means comprising, a tubular member mounted for rotational movement about its longitudinal axis, a threaded member carried by said tubular member, a screw extending through .said tubular member, means for moving said threaded member into engagement with the screw whereby the screw will advance along said axis upon rotational movement relative to said tubular member, and

yielding means normally retaining said tubular member against rotation, said means being adapted to yield under a predetermined counterthrust applied to said screw along the axis thereof to permit rotation of said tubular member with said screw.

3. In a lubricating device, means providing a source of lubricant supply, including a piston, adapted to-deliver lubricant under pressure upon the movement oi' said piston, a screw for moving said piston, and means responsive to a predetermined lubricant pressure in said supply means for rendering said screw ineffective to move said piston.

4. In a lubricating device, means providing a source of lubricant supply, including a piston, adapted to deliver lubricant under pressure upon the movement of said piston, means including a screw and a normally closed clutch for moving said piston, and means responsive to a predetermined lubricant pressure in said supply means for opening said clutch to render said screw ineifective to move said piston.

5.- In a lubricating device, means providing a source of lubricant supply, including a piston, adapted to deliver lubricant under pressure upon movement of said piston, an internally threaded tubular membermounted for rotational movement about the axis of said piston, a manually operable screwengageable with the threads o! said tubular member, for movingsaid plston, means normally vretaining said tubular member against rotation and means responsive to a predetermined lubricant pressure in said supply source for rendering said retaining means ineffective.

6. In a lubricating device, a thrust producing meanscomprising, aninternally threaded tubular member mountedfor rotational and limited longitudinal movement about and along its 1ongitudinal axis,'a screw extending through and engageable with the internally threaded portion ol said tubular member adapted to advance along said axis upon rotational movement relative to said tubular member, and yielding means urgingfrsaid tubular member in the direction of thrust applied by said screw to the forward limit of its travel and means operable when said tubular member is in said last named position for retaining the tubular member against rotation.

7. In a lubricating device, means providing a source of lubricant supply, including a piston', adapted to deliver lubricant under pressure upon movement of said piston in onedirection, an internally threaded tubular member mounted for rotational and limitedl longitudinal movement about Aand along the axis of said piston, clutch means for retaining saidtubular member against rotation when at the limit of its longitudinal movement inthe direction .of said piston, yielding means for urging said tubular member to said limit of its` movement, and a manually op-y erable screw engageable with the threads of said tubular member for moving said piston when said screw is rotated relative to said tubular member.

` 8. In a lubricating device, a thrust producing l means comprising, an elongated movable member, means for moving said member lengthwise along a fixed axis, and a clutch including relatively movable parts, one of said parts being connected to said last named means and movable in response to a predetermined counterthrust on said member to disengage the clutch thereby to render said moving means ineffective.

9. A lubricant dispe'nsing device for use with an interchangeable lubricant cartridge comprising, a housing to receive a cartridge, a feed member carried by the housing and engageable with the cartridge to place lubricant therein under pressure, `means carried by the housing for engaging the feed memberlto facilitate movement thereof, and means carried by the housing and responsive to the pressure of lubricant in the cartridge to render said means inoperative.

10.v A lubricantdispensing device for use with an interchangeable lubricant cartridge comprising, a housing to receive a cartridge, a feed screw extending into the housing and engageable with the cartridge to place the contents thereof under pressure, a threaded member carried by the housing and engaging the feedscrew, and means for holding said threaded member againsty rotation, said means being releasable in response to a predetermined back pressure on the feed screw.

11. A lubricant dispensing device for use with an interchangeable lubricant cartridge comprising, a housing to receive a cartridge, a feed screw extending into the housing and engageable with the cartridge to placethe contents thereof under pressure, a threaded member slidably mounted in the housing and threadedly engaging the feed screw, clutch means on said member and the housing to hold the member against rotation relative to the housing, resilient means urging c the member into clutch. engaging position and .yieldable in response to a predetermined back pressure on the feed screw to permit the member to move into clutch disengaging position.

12. A lubricant dispensing device comprising a lubricant cartridge having an outlet, means for displacing lubricant from-the cartridge through l said outlet, a feed member carried by the device to operate said means, mechanism including aclutch carried by the device and engaging said feed member to facilitate movement thereof, and

means responsive to a predetermined back pres- 5' sure on the feed member for disengaging the clutch thereby to prevent the building up of excessive pressure on the cartridge.

13. A lubricant dispensing device for use with anV interchangeable lubricant cartridge compris--` ing a housing to receive a cartridge, a feed member carried by the housing and engageable with the cartridge to place lubricant therein under pressure, means carried by the housing for engaglng the feed member to facilitate movement thereof, said means including a clutch, and means responsive to pressure of lubricant in the cartridge to disengage said clutch.

y `naamw R. misa. 

